Men of the Bible

Formed from the dust and given the breath of life — the first man, placed in the garden to care for it.

Found grace in a corrupt generation and built an ark exactly as God instructed, saving his family and every kind of animal.

Left everything he knew to follow God's call, and became the father of the nation of Israel through a promised son.

The long-awaited son of Abraham and Sarah, whose near-sacrifice on Mount Moriah pointed forward to Christ.

Isaac's firstborn, who traded his birthright for a single bowl of stew.

Wrestled with God through the night and was renamed Israel, becoming the father of the twelve tribes.

Sold into slavery by his own brothers, he rose to rule Egypt and saved his whole family from famine.

His tribe became the royal line that led to King David — and eventually to Jesus.

Jacob's youngest and most cherished son, whose safety was Joseph's final test for his brothers.

Defeated a foreign oppressor and gave Israel forty years of peace as its very first judge.

Used his unexpected left-handedness to defeat Moab's cruel king and free Israel.

Struck down six hundred Philistines with nothing but an ox goad.

Led Israel's army into battle alongside the judge Deborah and won a decisive victory.

Tested God twice with a wool fleece, then defeated a massive army with just three hundred men.

A rejected outcast who led Israel to victory, though a rash vow led to deep tragedy.

Israel's strongest judge, whose God-given strength came through a Nazirite vow he ultimately broke.

Led Israel out of slavery in Egypt, parted the Red Sea, and received God's Law on Mount Sinai — "no prophet has risen in Israel like Moses."

Israel's last judge and a great prophet, who anointed both Saul and David as king.

Called down fire from heaven on Mount Carmel and was carried up to heaven in a whirlwind.

Elijah's successor, who asked for a double portion of his spirit and performed miracle after miracle.

Saw visions of a coming Savior so detailed they're quoted throughout the New Testament.

Preached faithfully for forty years despite constant rejection, grieving deeply for his people.

Saw wild, vivid visions in exile, including a valley of dry bones brought back to life.

Taken captive as a young man, he stayed faithful in the lions' den and rose to high honor in two empires.

His own painful marriage became a living picture of God's steady love for an unfaithful Israel.

Warned of a devastating locust plague as a picture of the coming "day of the LORD."

A shepherd from Judah who boldly called out injustice in the wealthy northern kingdom.

Wrote the shortest book in the Old Testament, a sharp warning to the nation of Edom.

Ran from God's call, was swallowed by a great fish, and finally preached to Nineveh after all.

Foretold, centuries in advance, that the Messiah would be born in the small town of Bethlehem.

Prophesied the coming fall of the cruel and powerful city of Nineveh.

Honestly questioned why God allowed injustice, then chose to trust Him even without answers.

Warned Judah of coming judgment, but promised a joyful, faithful remnant on the other side.

Urged the exiles who'd returned from Babylon to stop delaying and finish rebuilding the temple.

Encouraged the temple's rebuilders with striking visions of a coming, humble King.

The last Old Testament prophet, who called a spiritually careless Israel back to faithful worship.

Preached repentance in the wilderness, baptized Jesus in the Jordan, and pointed everyone to Him.

A fisherman who became the outspoken leader of the apostles and preached boldly at Pentecost.

Peter's brother and the first disciple Jesus called, always the one bringing others to meet Him.

Part of Jesus's inner circle with Peter and John, and the first apostle to be martyred.

The "beloved disciple" who wrote a Gospel, three letters, and the book of Revelation.

Brought his friend Nathanael to meet Jesus with a simple invitation: "come and see."

A man "in whom there is no deceit," called by Jesus while sitting under a fig tree.

Doubted the resurrection until he saw Jesus's wounds with his own eyes — then believed completely.

A despised tax collector who left everything at Jesus's call, and later wrote a Gospel.

One of the twelve apostles, sometimes called "James the Less" to distinguish him from the other James.

Asked Jesus a heartfelt question at the Last Supper and carried the gospel onward after Pentecost.

A former Jewish nationalist who left that cause behind to become one of the twelve apostles.

The disciple who betrayed Jesus to the authorities for thirty pieces of silver.

Chosen by lot to take Judas's place among the twelve after the resurrection.

Went from persecuting Christians to becoming the greatest missionary in church history, writing much of the New Testament.

Paul's early ministry partner, whose name means "son of encouragement."

A carpenter who obeyed God's instructions without question and raised Jesus as his own son.

A priest who doubted an angel's promise and lost his voice — then rejoiced when his son John was born.

A religious leader who came to Jesus by night with honest questions, and later helped bury Him.

A wealthy, secret follower of Jesus who gave up his own tomb for Jesus's burial.

A close friend of Jesus who was raised from the dead after four days in the tomb.

The church's first martyr, stoned to death while praying forgiveness for his killers.

Shared the good news with an Ethiopian official on a desert road, and baptized him on the spot.

An eloquent preacher from Alexandria, mentored to greater accuracy by Priscilla and Aquila.

Paul's young protégé and "true son in the faith," who pastored the church at Ephesus.

One of Paul's most trusted partners, sent to organize the young church on the island of Crete.

Paul's traveling companion, who sang hymns with him from inside a Philippian jail at midnight.

Wrote the Gospel of Mark, and — after an early falling-out with Paul — became useful to him again.

A physician who carefully wrote a Gospel and the book of Acts as an eyewitness historian.

A devout Roman officer whose household became the first Gentile converts to follow Jesus.